£3-4k to spend, is the answer MX5?
Discussion
I bought my wife a Mk2 MX5 for her birthday. Unfortunately it met with a tree on a wet road and ended up being Ebayed. So we bought this as a winter project...
I was a sceptical about the hard top convertible, but it's brilliant. A few jobs to do, interior light needed replacing - £20 from MX5 parts, new scuttle bungs because of wet foorwells and a scuff on the front and rear bumpers. It owes me £1600.00 with a full Mazda history and 95k miles. I also bought a RX8 wiper stalk for the variable intermittent ability from the Bay.
Go for the MX5, you won't regret it.
I was a sceptical about the hard top convertible, but it's brilliant. A few jobs to do, interior light needed replacing - £20 from MX5 parts, new scuttle bungs because of wet foorwells and a scuff on the front and rear bumpers. It owes me £1600.00 with a full Mazda history and 95k miles. I also bought a RX8 wiper stalk for the variable intermittent ability from the Bay.
Go for the MX5, you won't regret it.
Not much difference in regards noise. Soft top is marginally noisier but the hard top isn't quiet. Don't expect saloon car noise levels.
As others have said, the soft top is an easy up and down, a bit heavy one handed sat in the car, unless you are a powerfully built PH type.
If you get an MX5, don't worry about 1.8 v 2.0 I don't think it matters. Creature comforts like heated leather are probably more of an issue. Front dogs are an easy retrofit from Ebay, all the loom is there already. As mentioned, an RX8 wiper stalk is a direct fit and gives variable wiper intermittent ability.
If you want to fettle and fiddle a bit, get a rolling project like ours.
As others have said, the soft top is an easy up and down, a bit heavy one handed sat in the car, unless you are a powerfully built PH type.
If you get an MX5, don't worry about 1.8 v 2.0 I don't think it matters. Creature comforts like heated leather are probably more of an issue. Front dogs are an easy retrofit from Ebay, all the loom is there already. As mentioned, an RX8 wiper stalk is a direct fit and gives variable wiper intermittent ability.
If you want to fettle and fiddle a bit, get a rolling project like ours.
TS,
Now that I have been looking at various MX5's i can see that what you have there was a very good find.
I cant find a similar 2007/8 MX5 at under £2k. The nearest I can find is a low spec softtop with 125000 miles for £2,200 (before a chat) and it is bright red, which is definitely not my first choice.
I guess i will have to keep looking! Thanks for the tips.
Now that I have been looking at various MX5's i can see that what you have there was a very good find.
I cant find a similar 2007/8 MX5 at under £2k. The nearest I can find is a low spec softtop with 125000 miles for £2,200 (before a chat) and it is bright red, which is definitely not my first choice.
I guess i will have to keep looking! Thanks for the tips.
That one of mine was £2k (I took off what the Mk2 sold for) from Ebay. A company based in Reading that basically sells on auction cars from dealers. Oddly, I live in Devon and this car came from Truro in Cornwall. Full Mazda printout, spare key in a bag stapled to the V5, and brand new discs and pads all round very, very recently. Also sitting on some Pirelli rubber, which is a bit elderly. Immaculate alloys too. Only concern is a note on the last MOT about some corrosion around the seatbelt anchor points. I'll get that looked at when a new exhaust goes on, this one's a bit ropey.
paulguitar said:
ZX10R NIN said:
Shuvi McTupya said:
I am going to look at a 2003 SLK 230 later. Is there Anything I should specifically be looking or listening out for?
The mot history looks unremarkable, mainly tyres and lights , it passed the last two without any advisories.
I'd always go for the gen2 model it's better in everyway but if it's a clean rust free car then the 230 is worth a look.The mot history looks unremarkable, mainly tyres and lights , it passed the last two without any advisories.
But it didn't make me want to buy it. It feels a little too 'dated' when sitting inside it. £2,300 would probably buy it and you would get a lot of car for that money but it didn't grab me.
Shuvi McTupya said:
Just went to have a look at it and it is lovely:
But it didn't make me want to buy it. It feels a little too 'dated' when sitting inside it. £2,300 would probably buy it and you would get a lot of car for that money but it didn't grab me.
Did you drive it? To me they feel like an uncomfortable C-Class, much more like a saloon than a real sports car with old school Mercedes numb and imprecise steering. Interior quality is patchy too, but from the outside I think they've dated well.But it didn't make me want to buy it. It feels a little too 'dated' when sitting inside it. £2,300 would probably buy it and you would get a lot of car for that money but it didn't grab me.
Not driven the Mk2 SLK but I've heard it's a big big improvement.
stickleback123 said:
Shuvi McTupya said:
Just went to have a look at it and it is lovely:
But it didn't make me want to buy it. It feels a little too 'dated' when sitting inside it. £2,300 would probably buy it and you would get a lot of car for that money but it didn't grab me.
Did you drive it? To me they feel like an uncomfortable C-Class, much more like a saloon than a real sports car with old school Mercedes numb and imprecise steering. Interior quality is patchy too, but from the outside I think they've dated well.But it didn't make me want to buy it. It feels a little too 'dated' when sitting inside it. £2,300 would probably buy it and you would get a lot of car for that money but it didn't grab me.
Not driven the Mk2 SLK but I've heard it's a big big improvement.
I had a 350 and it was fun. Quick, planted and reassuring, decent steering. Lovely sound from the V6, too.
TheJimi said:
Big jump in running costs, part prices and bork factor between an MX5 and an SLK though, no?
The V6 has a known issue with certain early cars being at risk of a balance-shaft failure. It was on a small minority of cars and can (and should) be looked into before purchase.Other than that...the tyres will cost more and it will use more fuel. I found servicing reasonable enough with a local indy. I've not had an MX-5 with which to directly compare, but I found the Merc pretty pain-free in terms of costs.
TheJimi said:
Big jump in running costs, part prices and bork factor between an MX5 and an SLK though, no?
I'm always wary when someone comes on looking at a certain calibre of car then the suggestions go up a level of two...
Yeah I am having trouble making my mind up but i know deep down the MX5 is the sensible choice.I'm always wary when someone comes on looking at a certain calibre of car then the suggestions go up a level of two...
stickleback123 said:
Did you drive it? To me they feel like an uncomfortable C-Class, much more like a saloon than a real sports car with old school Mercedes numb and imprecise steering. Interior quality is patchy too, but from the outside I think they've dated well.
Not driven the Mk2 SLK but I've heard it's a big big improvement.
No, I didn't drive it. I drove a new SL350 about 8 yrs ago and I knew this wouldn't move me so I decided not to waste the guys time any more than i did. I was amazed at how low the seating position was though, it feels lower than my peugeot 206cc.Not driven the Mk2 SLK but I've heard it's a big big improvement.
MX5s cost next to nothing to run, they almost never break and when they do nothing is very expensive and they are easy/cheap to work on. Insurance is cheap too. All in they are Toyota Yaris money to run.
Not my experience of aging Mercedes-Benz products from the 90s and early 00s but your mileage may vary. The SLK with the proper engine you'd actually want seems like a much more serious ownership proposition than a two grand MX5.
Not my experience of aging Mercedes-Benz products from the 90s and early 00s but your mileage may vary. The SLK with the proper engine you'd actually want seems like a much more serious ownership proposition than a two grand MX5.
paulguitar said:
The V6 has a known issue with certain early cars being at risk of a balance-shaft failure. It was on a small minority of cars and can (and should) be looked into before purchase.
Other than that...the tyres will cost more and it will use more fuel. I found servicing reasonable enough with a local indy. I've not had an MX-5 with which to directly compare, but I found the Merc pretty pain-free in terms of costs.
That issue affected the 350 Mercedes but was on a small number of cars.Other than that...the tyres will cost more and it will use more fuel. I found servicing reasonable enough with a local indy. I've not had an MX-5 with which to directly compare, but I found the Merc pretty pain-free in terms of costs.
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